What is the “Second Qualifying Event Extension of the 18-month Period of Continuation Coverage”?
If your family experiences another qualifying event while receiving COBRA continuation coverage, the spouse/domestic partner and dependent children in your family can get additional months of COBRA continuation coverage, up to a maximum of thirty-six (36) months. This extension is available to the spouse/domestic partner and dependent children if the former employee dies, enrolls in Medicare (Part A, Part B, or both), or gets divorced or legally separated. The extension is also available to a child when that child stops being eligible under the Fund as a dependent child. In all of these cases, you must make sure that the Fund is notified of the second qualifying event within 60 days of the second qualifying event. This notice must be sent to the UFT Welfare Fund at 52 Broadway, New York, New York 10004, Attention: COBRA.
• In the event of death, a photocopy of the death certificate must be provided.
• In the event of enrollment in Medicare, you must send a copy of the Medicare card.
• In the event of divorce, you must send a copy of the divorce judgment.
• In the event of legal separation, you must send a copy of the Court Order of Separation.
• In the event of the dissolution of a domestic partnership, you must send a copy of the “Affidavit of Domestic Partnership Termination”.
Continuation of coverage can never exceed thirty-six (36) months in total, regardless of the number of events that relate to a loss of coverage. Coverage during the continuation period will terminate if the COBRA participant fails to make timely payments or if the COBRA participant becomes covered under another employer sponsored group health plan while on the UFT Welfare Fund COBRA (unless the new plan contains a pre-existing condition exclusion).
What are my notification responsibilities?
Under the law, the member, retiree or eligible dependent has the responsibility to notify either their payroll secretary or the Department of Education's Health & Welfare Office (In-Service), or City of NY Health Benefits Program (Retirees) and the Welfare Fund within sixty (60) days of an address change, death, divorce, legal separation, termination of domestic partnership or a child losing dependent status.
A Qualified Beneficiary who is totally disabled (as determined by the SSA) and eligible for the disability extension, must submit to the Fund a copy of the SSA disability determination letter. This notice must be submitted within sixty (60) days of the SSA determination and before the end of the eighteen (18) month COBRA continuation period. If the SSA later determines that the Qualified Beneficiary is no longer disabled, then the Qualified Beneficiary must also notify the Fund, within thirty (30) days of this change.
When a qualifying event (such as a member's death, termination of employment, or reduction of hours) occurs, you and your eligible dependents will be notified by the Department of Education's Health & Welfare Office (In- Service), or City of NY Health Benefits Program (Retirees) of your option to choose continuation coverage.
How do I elect City COBRA coverage?
To elect City COBRA continuation of health coverage, the COBRA eligible person must complete a "COBRAContinuation of Coverage Application" (Form EB7). This application is available through the payroll secretary, the Department of Education's Health & Welfare Office (In- Service), or City of NY Health Benefits Program (Retirees).
What should I do if I am interested in electing the UFT Welfare Fund COBRA?
To elect UFT Welfare Fund COBRA you must:
• check off the box marked “yes” on the City COBRA application where it asks “Do you wish to purchase benefits from your Welfare Fund?” The Welfare Fund will receive a copy of your application from your health carrier (this may take up to two (2) months).
and/or
• make a copy of your City application and send it directly to the Welfare Fund Office. This will expedite the process.
Upon notification, a Welfare Fund COBRA application will be mailed to you so that you may enroll in the UFT Welfare Fund COBRA benefit plan.
If you do not elect City COBRA but you would like to purchase Welfare Fund COBRA, contact the Fund office directly.
Eligible persons choosing to elect COBRA coverage must do so within sixty (60) days of the qualifying event or of the date on which they receive notification of their rights, whichever is later.
When are my premium payments due?
The initial premium is due within forty-five (45) days of your COBRA election. Thereafter, premiums are due on the first of the month with a thirty (30) day grace period. Since there cannot be a gap in the coverage period, coverage and premiums are retroactive to the COBRA qualifying event date.
When can I change my benefits selected under COBRA?
COBRA participants are entitled to change the selection of COBRA benefits during the City’s Fall Open Enrollment Period as designated for In-Service or Retirees.
Who can I call if I have any questions about COBRA?
If you have questions about your COBRA continuation coverage, you should contact the Fund or you may contact the nearest Regional or District Office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). Addresses and phone numbers of Regional and District EBSA Offices are available through EBSA’s website at www.dol.gov/ebsa.